[TheForge] Stainless steel

[Rick]

Hello Phlip -
    I would try some with T-304 stainless.  It is the cheapest and easiest 
to find shapes of.  Most common.  Try a couple and see how they work, as it 
can not be heat treated well.  (As far as I know.)  If that isn't hard 
enough, then you will need to try some other tool steel, such as (I would 
think) a high chromium containing steel for the water resistance.

Rick Crawford at Rafter Lazy C
  Home of Smoky Forge and Lem the Wonder Mule
   In the middle of Northern Illinois

    http://www.smokyforge.com
     rick at smokyforge.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Saint Phlip" <phlip at 99main.com>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>; 
<knife-list at kepler-eng.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:43 AM
Subject: [TheForge] Stainless steel


> I'm looking for advice in choosing and playing with stainless steel
> for a particular project.
>
> There are a lot of leatherworkers about, and they need tools. Many, of
> course, can be bought through modern suppliers, such as Tandy and
> Leather Factory, but some folks want specific tools for specific
> historical periods.
>
> However, using a plain carbon steel isn't a good idea- the iron reacts
> with the tannins and the water in the leather, leaving black marks
> (veggie tanned leather, which is what you use for tooling, must be
> dampened to leave an impression), so the modern toolmakers make the
> tool, and plate it with chrome.
>
> Making specific tools isn't difficult, insofar as shaping the handle
> and the business end. What IS difficult is finding the right steel.
>
> Characteristics needed-
>
> Doesn't leave black marks on the leather
> Tough enough to do the job for quite a number of impressions (I've
> used a particular tool on a single project a couple hundred times or
> more, for a repetitive pattern)
> Reasonably easy to heat treat
> Reasonably easy to acquire
> Looks rather like a good carbon steel
> Comes in reasonably useful shapes- small hex, round, or square- 1/4" or 
> so.
>
> Any suggestions? Or, any suggestions for other materials that might do the 
> job?
>
>
> -- 
> Saint Phlip
>
> Heat it up
> Hit it hard
> Repent as necessary.
>
> Has anyone seen my temper?
> I seem to have misplaced it at Stalag XXXV....
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